**Leith Links Litter Pick**
Saturday 22nd October 10am til 12 noon
Start your weekend off by taking positive action with others in your area on a community litter pick of Leith Links.
Bring your own litter picker or gloves if you have them, however we also have a supply.
When Scotland first went into lockdown in March 2020, a wave of uncertainty and fear was felt throughout society as people were told to stay at home, to save lives.
But as schools, shops and offices closed, communities did not.
Local people and grassroots groups were quick to come up with innovative ways to help during the crisis. Social action accelerated and became a central feature of Scotland’s response to the lockdown and ongoing challenges of coronavirus.
In July 2020 Social Action Inquiry partners commissioned The Collective to lead on a short-term piece of research to capture the stories and lessons learned from communities coming together to help.
From food drop offs to phone calls to isolated neighbours, volunteering and wellbeing support, the research brings to life the ways people developed creative approaches to make a difference.
The final research report Together We Help is now available and shines a light on the power of communities to mobilise and initiate social action in response to the issues that matter to them.
Eighteen community researchers gathered insights from 367 people involved in social action in their local areas, asking what inspired them to be involved and what lessons can be learned to build a fairer Scotland.
The research suggested that the stigma associated with accessing support such as food banks in times of need may have reduced as demand for these vital services increased dramatically throughout lockdown in 2020.
Community researchers also found that offering support and participating in local responses to the coronavirus crisis was both a ‘blessing and a curse’ as while it helped people to feel more connected to their community it also increased awareness and feelings of frustration at the growing levels of inequality on their doorstep.
The findings from the Together We Help research will help inform the Social Action Inquiry.
This independent inquiry will look at how communities take action and will try to contribute to a Scotland where social action is valued and is able to make change happen in communities.
Afternoon workshop and evening screening – Thursday 18th May
The film’s about a group of communities standing together in solidarity in a fight against the “Goliath” of an gas extraction company where, against all the odds, they won with the strength they built together. And so there’s two things about the film which I think might be of interest.
1. Its crowd sourced and the crew touring with the film are the director, a town mayor and one of the key activists so there’ll be discussions with positive messages after the film.
2. They’ve offered to run a workshop in the afternoon before the film which are being tagged as “potential community responses” but I think essentially they’ll be about forms of action.
And so you can find details re The Bentley Effect below but you can see the Bentley Effect trailer via:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLnRD3neUFo
There’s a sign up route for the “collective responses” workshop on the 18th before the film screening and this can be accessed via: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-response-to-fracking-workshop-1230for1-5pm-thur18may-edinburgh-tickets-34117267666
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www.eventbrite.co.uk
All concerned about the threat of Extremme Energy are invited to this community activists workshop exploring all the options for bearing witness against corporate plans for fracking in Scotland – so-called Unconventional Oil and Gas planned for mainly the Central Belt. Please book via https://frack18may.eventbrite.co.uk.
Bring and Share lunch from 12.30-1 then we are in the hands of our three Australian visitors who will be showing their seminal documentary “The Bentley Effect” early in the evening at 50 George Sq. 12.30 Registration and informal bring and share lunch13.00
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Groundswell Rising is an inspiring documentary which shows how many communities have suffered and try to fight back against the fracking and unconventional oil and gas industry in America.
The film is being screened, and followed by discussion, in North Edinburgh Arts this coming Friday from 7pm-9.30.
The event is free and will include input from Dr Richard Dixon, Friends of the Earth Scotland, and Prof Andrew Waterson, Professor of Public Health from Stirling University.
To book a place use the Event Brite link below and click to register a place at the North Edinburgh Arts Event.
If you are unable to come ( or even if you can!) please distribute through your networks.
For more info, or if you’ve any questions, please call 07886 887 923.
Best wishes
Callum
Our Forth
